Hybrid Tea rose plant named ‘Meigrilega’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Hybrid Tea rose plant is provided that abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive fully double magenta blossoms that are lavender-pink on the reverse. The blossom configuration is somewhat formal and displays well when cut and placed in a vase. The plant exhibits vigorous vegetation and an upright and bushy growth habit. The foliage is ornamental dark green with a glossy finish. A sweet fragrance is provided by the blossoms. The plant is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens.

Botanical/commerical classification: Rosa hybrida/Hybrid Tea Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Meigrilega.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Hybrid Tea rose plant of the presentinvention was created in France by artificial pollination during June1998 wherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studiedin the hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. Thefemale parent (i.e., the seed parent) was the ‘Meigriso’ variety(non-patented in the United States). The male parent (i.e., the pollenparent) of the new variety was the ‘Twobe’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No.7,901). The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:‘Meigriso’×‘Twobe’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Hybrid Tea rose plant of the present inventionpossesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive        fully double magenta blossoms that are lavender-pink on the        reverse,    -   (b) exhibits an upright and bushy growth habit,    -   (c) forms vigorous vegetation,    -   (d) forms attractive ornamental dark green foliage with a glossy        finish, and    -   (e) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the        landscape.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. Itcan be grown to advantage as ornamentation in parks, gardens, publicareas, and in residential settings. The new variety is particularly wellsuited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape. Duringobservations to date the disease resistance has been above average forthe type. The brightly colored magenta blossoms contrast nicely with theornamental dark green foliage. Additionally, the blossom configurationis somewhat formal and displays well when cut and placed in a vase.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguishedfrom its ancestors through an inspection of the blossom coloration. Morespecifically, the ‘Meigriso’ variety forms ruby-red blossoms that arewhitish on the reverse, and the ‘Twobe’ variety forms blossoms that areNeyron Rose to Rhodonite Red in coloration.

The new variety of the present invention also can be readilydistinguished from other fragrant Hybrid Tea rose varieties such as the‘Wezeip’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,552) and the ‘Tanallepal’variety (non-patented in the United States). More specifically, theblossoms of the ‘Wezeip’ variety display a lesser number of petals andare of a dissimilar silvery lavender coloration shading to ruby-red atthe edges. The blossoms of the ‘Tanallepal’ variety also display alesser number of petals and are of a dissimilar color combinationwherein the upper surface is cherry red and the under surface iswhite-to-silver.

The characteristics of the new variety have been found at LeCannet-des-Maures, Var, France, and at Waso, Calif., U.S.A., to behomogeneous and stable and to be strictly transmissible by asexualpropagation, such as budding, grafting, and the rooting of cuttings fromone generation to another. Accordingly, the new variety reproduces in atrue-to-type manner by such asexual propagation.

The new variety has been named ‘Meigrilega’ and will be marketed in theUnited States under the GIRLS' NIGHT OUT trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character, arepresentative blossom and foliage of the new variety.

The plant was approximately two years of age and was observed duringJune while growing outdoors in a container at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart—1995 or equivalent), London,England. The description is based on the observation of two-year-oldspecimens of the new variety during June while growing outdoors incontainers at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

-   Class: Hybrid Tea.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 1.6 m on average at the end of the            growing season.        -   Width.—Approximately 1 m on average at the end of one            growing season.        -   Habit.—Upright and bushy.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—Young stems: near Yellow-Green Group 144B. Adult            wood: Yellow-Green Group 146B.        -   Thorns.—Size: approximately 5 mm in length, approximately 4            mm in width at the base, and commonly near Greyed-Red Group            178A in coloration when immature, and commonly near            Greyed-Red Group 184A when fully mature.        -   Texture.—Young stems: smooth with short hairs. Adult wood:            Smooth with occasional rough patches.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—A five-leaflet leaf commonly is approximately 11.6 cm            in length on average and approximately 8.9 cm on average at            the widest point. Number: 3, 5 and 7. Length: approximately            7 cm on average for a terminal leaflet, and approximately            4.5 cm on average for a lower leaflet. Width: approximately            5 cm on average at the widest point for a terminal leaflet,            and approximately 3 cm on average at the widest point for a            lower leaflet. Shape: ovate with a rounded base and a            somewhat acuminate tip. Margins: denticulate. Texture:            smooth on both surfaces, and with a coarse midrib on the            under surface. Overall appearance: ornamental, attractive            dark green with a glossy upper surface. Color (young            foliage): Upper surface: commonly Yellow-Green Group 147A.            Under surface: commonly Yellow-Green Group 146B and            substantially suffused with Greyed-Purple Group 184B. Color            (adult foliage): Upper surface: commonly near Yellow-Green            Group 147A. Under surface: commonly near Yellow-Green Group            147B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly up to approximately 10 blooms on            a plant at a given time.        -   Petioles. —Length: commonly approximately 3 cm on average.            Diameter: approximately 1 mm on average. Texture: smooth and            covered with short hairs. Color: on the upper surface near            Yellow-Green Group 146C overlaid with Greyed-Orange Group            166A.        -   Stipules.—Length: approximately 1.5 cm on average. Width:            approximately 5 mm on average. Texture: smooth on the upper            surface and with short hairs on the under surface. Color:            near Yellow-Green Group 146C.        -   Peduncle.—Near Yellow-Green Group 144A in coloration, smooth            in texture with short hairs, commonly approximately 7.5 mm            in length on average, and approximately 7 mm in diameter on            average.        -   Sepals.—Upper surface: smooth, slightly fuzzy in texture,            hirsute, and commonly near Yellow-Green Group 145A in            coloration with darker coloration of Green Group 138A            towards the margins. Under surface: smooth, and near            Yellow-Green Group 144A in coloration. Size: commonly            approximately 4.5 cm in length on average, and approximately            1 cm in width at the base. Number: five.        -   Buds.—Shape: generally ovoid. Length: approximately 3 cm on            average as the calyx breaks. Diameter: approximately 1.2 cm            on average as the calyx breaks. Color: Red Group 71C.        -   Flower.—Form: somewhat formal, and fully double. Diameter:            approximately 14 cm on average when fully open. Color (when            opening begins): upper surface: near Red-Purple Group 57B            highlighted with Red-Purple Group 60A at the petal edges.            under surface: near Red-Purple Group 64D. Color (at end of            blooming): upper surface: near Red Group 55B suffused with            Red Group 55A at the petal edges. under surface: near Red            Group 56A. Fragrance: sweet scent. Petal number: commonly            approximately 43 to 45 on average. Petal size: commonly            approximately 3.5 cm on average in length, and approximately            3.7 cm on average in width. Petal shape: generally obovate.            Petal texture: generally smooth. Petal apex: obtuse. Petal            base: rounded. Petaloids: absent during observations to            date. Petal drop: the petals commonly drop cleanly at full            maturity. Stamen: approximately 115 to 120 on average, and            regularly arranged about the pistils. Anthers: commonly            approximately 3 mm in length, approximately 2 mm in width,            and near Yellow Group 11A in coloration. Filaments:            approximately 5 mm in length on average, and near Orange-Red            Group 33A in coloration. Pistils: approximately 140 to 145            on average, and separate and free. Styles: commonly            approximately 5 to 8 mm in length, and near Greyed-Orange            Group 164A in coloration. Stigmas: approximately 1 mm in            diameter, and near Red-Purple Group 61D in coloration.            Receptacle: achenes stand on the bottom and wall, generally            round in shape, smooth in texture, commonly approximately 7            mm in length, and approximately 8 mm in width, and near            Green Group 143C in color.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Vigorous and strong.        -   Blossoming.—Abundant and substantially continuous during the            growing season.        -   Resistance to disease.—Above average for Blackspot, Mildew,            and Rust during observations to date.        -   Formation of hips/seeds.—None have been observed during            observations to date.

1. A new and distinct Hybrid Tea rose plant characterized by thefollowing combination of characteristics: (a) abundantly andsubstantially continuously forms attractive fully double magentablossoms that are lavender-pink on the reverse, (b) exhibits an uprightand bushy growth habit, (c) forms vigorous vegetation, (d) formsattractive ornamental dark green foliage with a glossy finish, and (f)is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape;substantially as herein shown and described.